Madeleine L’Engle’s novel “A Wrinkle in Time” has been inspiring readers of all ages since 1962. Now, Ava DuVernay’s imaginative new adaptation is sure to create legions of new fans and something epic and meaningful to last for years to come.

Ava DuVernay (photo by Walt Disney Studios)

“Meg Murry is an imperfect girl who takes a fantastic journey, not to become perfect, but to learn to embrace her flaws,” says DuVernay. “Through this journey we reflect on the big themes in life that we all share, regardless of where we’re from, what we look like and what we believe. We all know that love and hate, light and darkness, the themes of our very humanity, are something that we each grapple with, something we all share. It’s the human struggle…and the human triumph.”

For actor Storm Reid, it’s a story that sends a message to audiences to always love yourself. “It is okay to have good days and bad days because that is what makes us human beings, but do what you love and don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something,” she says.

“What I love about the film is that it has a visual context for light and darkness,” adds producer Jim Whitaker. “And it has an emotional context for light and darkness, with Meg going from being dark inside to ultimately light and strong.”

But the concept of darkness versus light represents so much more than just the battle between good and evil—it is complacency versus activism, bravery versus cowardice, individuality versus conformity and any number of other ideas that are profoundly relevant in our society today.

“Extraordinary can often seem rather ordinary,” continues Whitaker. “And Meg Murry’s voyage shows us how we ultimately can come to a place where that lightness can overcome the darkness, allowing us to bring the best parts of ourselves to the world.”